Related Experiment Videos
Atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis in Central America: possible interaction between infectious and environmental
1Instituto de Biomedicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela/Ministerio de Salud y Desarrollo Social, Apartado 4043, Caracas 1010A, Venezuela. jconvi@telcel.net.ve.edu
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|November 20, 2004
Summary
Inorganic material, possibly volcanic silica and aluminum, found in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients may alter immune responses and prevent parasite spread. This discovery offers new insights into leishmaniasis pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Parasitology
- Immunology
Background:
- Cutaneous leishmaniasis presents diagnostic challenges.
- The role of environmental factors in leishmaniasis pathogenesis is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the histopathological and elemental composition of atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis biopsies.
- To explore the potential influence of inorganic materials on the host immune response and disease progression.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological examination of 71 biopsies from Costa Rica and 19 from Nicaragua.
- Leishmania culture attempts, Leishmanin skin tests, confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis.
- Analysis of inorganic material composition in skin samples.
Main Results:
- Leishmania parasites were isolated from only two biopsies.
- 90.3% of Costa Rican patients and 27.7% of healthy individuals tested positive with Leishmanin.
- Histopathology revealed naked granulomas, and microscopy identified abundant inorganic material (silica, aluminum) in patient skin.
Conclusions:
- The presence of inorganic material, potentially of volcanic origin, in the skin may modulate the immune response to Leishmania.
- This inorganic material might inhibit the visceralization of Leishmania chagasi infections.